Manually operated electric switch and switch mechanism



Feb. 16, 1932; V p, pm A 1,845,518 I MANUALLY OPERATED ELECTRIC SWITCH AND SWITCH MECHANICM Filed May 7, 1930 a 5 2 I 3 A.

I 72 did I ,4 I l latented Feb. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFIcE TRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS ASSIGNOR TO CONDII. ELEC- OF SOUTH BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A

Emmi: ormrm) ELECTRIC SWITCIElI AND swrron mncmmsm Application filed Kay 7, 1930. Serial No. 450,484.

This invention relates to electric switches for the control of small power circuits, as the circuits of electric motors, and particularly to switches having manually controlled means for operating them.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved mechanism for connecting the movable switch member and manual operating means which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

A further object of the invention is to rvide simple and effective manually contro led switch operating mechanism for a multibreak electric switch.

A still further object'of the invention is generally to improve the construction and operation of electric switches.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an electric switch embodying the invention, the enclosing casing being shown in section.

Fig. 2-is afront elevation of the switch of 1 with part'of the casing broken away.

1g. 3 is a perspective view of the manually controlled operating mechanism for the switch.

Fig. 4 is a detail of a toggle link.

. I Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing the connection between the operating mechanism and movableswitch member.

The switch herein shown. is contained within an enclosing casing having the fixed back part or section 10, open at the front, and the front part or section 12, which is hinfged at its top edge to and constitutes a cover or the open front of said back part. The two parts of the casing are releasably connected together by a latch plate 14 carried by the back rigidly secured part and extended forwardly through and arranged to engage the cover 12.

The switch includes the left and right hand side plates 16 and 18 which are provided with pairs of inwardly directed reflexed ears 20 at the top upon which the horizontal insulating plate 22 rests and to which it is by screws 24. Said side plates are also rected reflected front edges upon ing panel 28 rests provided with inwardly diflanges 26 at their lower which the vertical insulatand to which it is secured rigidly by screws at the top and bottom thereof. The insulating plate 20 and the panel 28 thus constitute means for connecting the side plates rigidly together in spaced relation. Said side plates are also held in spaced relation by a transverse rod 29 having reduced end portions 29a which are received in and extended through suitable passages in said plates and which are struck over at their extended ends whereby to hold said side plates fixedly against the shoulders formed by said reduced portions 29a. Said side plates are also formed at the bottom rear edges thereof with outwardly reflexed flanges 32 which are provided at their upper ends with holes 34 having elongated passages to receive the outstanding heads of suitable rivets 36 fixed to said casing. Similar holes 38 are provided at the lower ends of said flanges to receive screws 40 by which the movably to the casing.

The upper horizontal insulating plate 22 constitutes the carrier for andinsulates a plurality of stationary contact members of which three sets are shown, 0ne for each phase of the switch. A set includes three aligned contact members 42, 42a, and 42?) each having a pair of contact faces switch is secured retact members of the several-phases, whereby the rear wall ofv 44. The end contact 7 members are provided with upstanding cars r shoulder rivet 72, and

transverse operating 8, which passages end and a prong or to provide four simultaneous breaks in series in each phase.

.reflexed upstanding side plates 54. Said side plates are further reflexed at their upper ends to provide inwardly directed flanges 56 which lie parallel with the bottom plate 52 of said frame and which are adapted to be received in horizontal grooves 58 formed in the sides of said movable contact plate 48', in which position said plate is releasably secured by a leaf spring 59 which is secured to said frame and which engages a notch 59a in the bottom face of said plate. Said frame is guided in its vertical movement by pairs of inwardly reflexed parallel cars 60 of said side plates which are received in suitable vertical kerfs 62 in the side plates 54 of said frame.

The operating mechanism for reciprocating the movable switch member includes a shaft 64 which extends between and is journalled at the reduced end portions 65 thereof in the opposite side plates 16 and 18, and a pair of operating toggles 66 side plates. The bottom plate 52 of frame 50 is provided with struck-out depending toggle attaching cars 68 adjacent the side plates 16 and 18. Said toggles 66 are similar. Each comprises a generally vertical toggle link 70 which is pivotally connected at its upper end to a depending car 68 off said frame by a a lower toggle link 7 4 which is pivoted at one end to the lower end of said upper link by a shoulder rivet 7 6 and which is rigidly carried at its other end by the operating shaft. Said shaft between the side plates 16 and 18 is square in section thus faces of said sideplates 16 against the inner displacement of the and 18 and prevent axial shaft.

The manner of fixing the. lower toggle links 74 to the operating shaft 64 is especially simple and effective and constitutes an feature of the invention. aid links are adapted to 64 so as to lie in spaced parallel planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said shaft. To this end the square section of said shaft is provided with a diametric assage 80 at each end, adjacent the shoulders are normal to a pair of opposed fiat faces of link 74 preferably is stamped from sheet meta1 and is formed with a pair of side-by-side rectangplar marginal notches 82 at its free tongue 84 of section between said notches. The link is located on the shaft with the square portion of the shaft in the notches and the tongue in the passage 80 of the shaft. The shaft fits which are disposed between and adjacent said 'is closed, they hold to provide opposed shoulders 78 which abut be secured to the shaft.

the shaft. Each toggle P rectangular teasers closely in the notches so that it is in effect keyed to the link. The the thickness of the shaft so that it extends through and beyond the shaft. The extended end of said tongue is peened, or struck over, thus to fix the link rigidly to the shaft, the tongue 84 not only maintaining the link in position normal to the shaft but also preventing the displacement of the link axially of the shaft. It will thus be evident that the lower toggle links 74 constitute crank arms which are fixed to said operating shaft. Said lower toggle links are also provided with flat faces 86 which in the closed position' of the mechanism, in which the toggle links are ina slightly overshot position, are adapted to engage the rod 29 carried by the adjacent side walls of the switch to limit the movement of the mechanism in a switch closing direction. The switch is limited in its movement in a switch opening direction by engagement of the bottom 52 of frame 50 with the upper ends of flanges 26.

which extends through the shaft and at their upper ends to the toggle links 7 0 by cotter pins 94 which extend therethrough. The springs are so arranged that,-when the switch the toggles in slightly overshot position against when the toggles are moved over their centers in a switch opening direction, the springs act to collapse the toggles.

The operating shaft may be rotated by suitable external means as the tends through an aperture 98 in a side wal of the casing 10, and which is received on the cylindrical extended end portion 65 of the operating sha nected with the shaft by a spring pm 102 which extends through the sleeve of said key and through an aperture of said shaft. Said pin is received in an elongated slot 104 in the sleeveof said key whereby to provide a lost motion connection between the key and the shaft. The arrangement is such that a rotary movement of the key serves to rotate the operating shaft to move the toggles into overcenter and stop 29. Rotation of the key in the opposite direction moves the toggles over on-center osition in a switch opening direction after whichthe toggles under the action of springs 90 move into a switch open position independently of further movement of the key. A U-shaped about the key, external of the casing, to prevent it from accidental operation. 1

Thermal overload relays 108 are provided on said panel 28 which are connected by ft 64. Said key is loosely conguard plate 106 is provided" tongue is longer than the stop rod 29 and,

key 96 which exmeans of rigid conducting straps 110 with v be quickly assembled so the phase circuits of the switch.

The above described operating mechanism is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, being largely composed of cheap stampings, and isfurther advantageous in that it may that the ultimate cost of the switch is greatly reduced over the mechanism usually employed.

The electrical characteristics of the switch are such that but a relatively small amount of clearance is needed between the separable contact members when the switch is open. Thus the crank links 7 4 need have but a relatively short throw so that the pivotal connections between them and said long links can be close to the shaft, thereby. simplifying the construction, saving space, and 1mproving, the mechanical operation of the switch. This feature permits the switch to be opened and closed with little side throw on the sliding frame 52 since there is little change in angular position of the long links 70 in moving between open and closed positions.

Various changes in the construction and arrangement of the parts can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim: 1

1. An electric switch comprising the combination of cooperating stationary and movable switch members, and operating mechanism for said movable switch member includ- 7 ing an operating shaft having a rectangular portion provided with a passage therethrough, a toggle arm comprising a fiat plate having a rectangular notch in one end in which the squared portion of said operating shaft is received closely and having an integral prong which is located in the passage in said shaft, and means including a link pivotally connecting said arm and movable switch member.

An electric switch comprising the combination of cooperating stationary and mov able switch members, and operating mechanism for said movable switch member including an operating shaft having a rectangular portion intermediate its ends provided with a transverse passage therethrough, a toggle arm formed with a rectangular notch inone end thereof in which the rectangular portion of said shaft is-closely received, said arm also having an integral prong which extends into said notch and which is closely received in and extends through and beyond the passage in said shaft and has a head at its end which engages said shaft and fixes said toggle arm rigidly to said shaft, and link mechanism interconnecting said toggle arm and movable switch member.

J 3. An electric switch having the combination of cooperating stationary and movable switch members, a rotatable operating shaft havinga rectangular portion provided with a transverse passage therethrough, an operating. toggle connectin said shaft with said movable switch mem er including a toggle necting said shaft with said movable switch member including a toggle arm comprising a flat link having two parallel closely spaced rectangular recesses in one end in which the rectangular portion of said shaft is closely; received and an integral prong between sai recesses received within the passage in and extended beyond said shaft'and having a projecting head that engages said shaft and holds said arm fixedly thereto.,

5. An electric switch having a supporting frame including spaced side plates, a stationary contact supporting plate extended between and fixed to the upper ends of said side plates, contact members carried thereby, a movable contact carrying plate located betweenv said side platesjbeneath said stationary plate, contact members carried thereby,'a supporting frame for said movable contact plate located between and guided for vertical movement by said side plates, operating togpivotal connections with the opposite ends of said frame, a transverse operating shaft of rectangular section extended between I and having end bearingportions which are ournalled in said side plates, lower toggle links having rectangular recesses at their lower ends in which said rectangular shaft is adapt ed to be closely received and also having integral prongs which extend into said recesses and through passages in said shaft and which are provided with struck-over extreme end portions which overlie said passages, whereby to secure said links fixedly to said shaft, and means to rotate said shaft in opposite directions'.

6. An electric switch having stationary and movable contact members, and operating mechanism therefor including a movable operating frame having depending toggle attaching ears, a pair of spaced operating toggles having upper pivotal connections with the ears of said frame, a transverse operating shaft having a rectangular section provided with passages therethrough, said toggles having recesses in their lower ends adapted to receive the rectangular section of said shaft closely therein and also having prongs which are received in and closely conform to the passages through said shaft, said prongs terminating in struck-over end portions which overlie said passages whereby to lock said shaft fixedly in said recesses.

7. An electric switch having stationary and movable contact members, and operating mechanism therefor including a vertically reciprocable frame having a depending toggle attaching member, an operating-toggle having apivotal connection at its upper end with said attaching member, a rotatable operating shaft having a rectangular portion provided with arectangularpassage' therethrough, said lower toggle link constituting afiat link of sheet metal formed with a rectangular recess in its end having an intermediate rectangular prong extended thereinto, said recess adapted to receive the rectangular portion of said shaft closely therein with the prong of said toggle disppsed within and extended outwardly beyond said passage, said prong having its extended end struck-over and overlying said passage to secure said lower toggle link fixedly to said shaft.

8. Operating mechanism for an electric switch including a rotatable operating shaft having spaced bearing portions and adjacent operating portions formed with flat angularly related periphe'ralfaces, a flat link having a marginal recess therein the edges of which conform with at least two of the angularly related faces of said shaft, means integral with said link arranged to hold said link and shaft fixedly in the aforesaid relation, and mechanism operated by said link.

9. In an electric switch the combination of a supporting frame including a pair of spaced side plates, a contact supporting plate fixed to said plates at the tops thereof, contact members carried by the lower face of said plate, -a movable contact supporting plate located between said side plates, contact members carried by said movable plate arranged to cooperate with said stationary contact members to complete the circuit through-the switch, operating mechanism in.- cluding a supporting frame for said movable contact supporting plate which" is guided for vertical movement between said side plates,

an operating shaft extended transverselybetween said side plates and journalled at its ends in said plates and having an intermediate rectangular portion, a toggle-arm comprising a flat plate having a marginal recess in which said rectangular portion is closely received and having a prong projecting into said recess and in the plane of said arm which is received in and projects through a passage in said shaft, said prong adapted to be upset at its projecting end to fix said arm rigidly to said shaft, operating means carried by reeaeie said shaft having a lost motion connection therewith, a toggle link connecting the extended end of said toggle arm pivotally with said frame, and a tensile spring connecting said toggle link and shaft whereby to bias said toggle and movable plate toward switch open position. 9,

10. In an electric switch the combination of a supporting frame including a pair of spaced side plates, a contact supporting plate fixed to said plates at the tops thereof, contact members carried by the lower face of said plate, a movable contact supporting plate located between said side plates, contact members carried by said movable plate arranged to cooperate with said stationary contact members to complete the circuit through the switch, operating mechanism 1ncluding a supporting frame for said movable contact supporting plate which is guided for vertical movement between said side plates, an operating shaft extended transversely between said side plates and journalled at its ends in said plates and having an intermediate rectangular portion, a pair of similar operating toggles located alongside said side plates each including toggle arms having marginal recesses at similar ends thereof which are adapted to receive the rectangular portion of said operating shaft and also hav- 1 g integral tongues. extended into said recesses which are extended through and be- 11. In an electric switch the combination of a pair of spaced side plates, a stationary contact supporting plate connecting said plates at their upper ends, a movable contact carried by said side frames arranged to ensupporting plate located between said side plates, :1 frame in which said movable plate is removably secured arranged to cooperate with said side plates to guide said plate for vertical movement, operating mechanism for reciprocating said frame including a horizontal operating shaft journalled in said side plates beneath said frame and having two spaced relatively short toggle arms fixed thereto which are movable by the rotation of said shaft between a horizontal and a vertical position, and a pair of relatively long and generally vertical toggle'links separately ends tosaid frame.

12. An electric switch comprising stationary and movable contact members, an operating mechanism for the movable contact member including a crank arm having a noncircular slot therein which is open at one edge of said arm, a correspondingly non-circular crank shaft located in said opening, means integral with said arm which is located in a depression of said shaft and which holds said arm onto said shaft against detachment therefrom and which also holds said arm against axial movement along said shaft, andmeans operatively connecting said crank arm with said movable switch member.

13. An" electric switch comprising stationary and movable contacti nembers, an operating mechanism 'for the movable contact member including a crank arm having a noncirc'ular slot therein which is open at one edge 'of said arm, a correspondingly non-circular crank shaft located in said opening, means integral with said arm which is located in a depression of said shaft and which holds said arm onto said shaft against detachment therefrom and which also holds said arm against axial movement along said shaft, means operativelv connecting said crank arm withsaid movable switch member, and means locatedon opposite sides of said crankshaft providing abutments which are en aged by different parts of said. crank arm to limit its movement in opposite directions.

14. An electric switch having stationary contact members.' cooperating movable contact members, and 'switch operating mechanism inclu 'ng'an operating shaft. a crank arm fixed t said shaft and extended laterallv in one direction therefrom. means including a link pivotallv connected with said extended end of said crank arm and also with said movable c'ontact member, said link and said crank arm constituting a switch closin toggle membenand means for holding said toggle in set position and also for 001 lapsin said tog le including a tensile s ring 1 one end of which is connected to an intermediate part of said link and the other end of which hasa connection with said shaft on the same side, thereof from which said crank arm extends. I

' 115. An electric switch comprising'stationmy contact members, movable contact members, a movable horizontal supportingframe for said movable contact members, switch operating mechanism including an operating shaft which is extehded horizontally beneath said movable frame. axiallyv spaced crank arms fixed to. said shaft and extended laterallv therefrom in the same direction, vertically. disposed links pivoted to the extended ends of said arms and having pivotal connections? with spaced parts of said operating frame, said links and crank arms constituting operating toggles, and means to hold said toggles in set position when the switch is closed and also to collapse said tog les when the switch is open including tensl e springs which have their up er ends connected to intermediate parts of said links and their lower ends connected to said 0 crating shaft between said crank arms and in positions which are spaced from said crank arms.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY P. PINKHAM. 

